upper cervical blog

Neck pain is a common condition that afflicts millions of Americans. Symptoms may include not only neck pain itself but also shoulder, arm, and hand pain as well as headaches. Because neck pain is such a common ailment, various classifications have been developed to help provide proper care for patients. Let’s take a look at the 3 classifications of neck pain. Then we can discuss a natural way for you to get help for your neck pain that you very likely have never even considered before.

Neck Pain Classifications

​The three neck pain categories are:

Axial – This pain springs from soft tissue, muscle, or skeletal issues in the neck. When a muscle strain occurs or someone suffers a whiplash injury, this is the type of neck pain that results.

Myelopathy – This includes neck pain that is the result of spinal cord pressure. This type of neck pain usually presents with numbness, pain, or weakness in the arms or legs depending on the location of the pressure.

Radiculopathy – This classification includes pain from nerve compression. When this occurs in the cervical spine, neck pain is usually accompanied by weakness or numbness in the arms.

Regardless of which classification of pain a person is experiencing the neck pain may be further broken down as being either acute or chronic.

Acute pain involves sudden onset and is usually the result of an injury or stress. Acute pain may resolve itself and care usually involves pain medication to hold a person over until the pain goes away.

Chronic pain, by definition, has to last at least 3 months. When conservative methods of relieving pain are exhausted, a doctor may recommend drastic measures such as surgery to correct an underlying issue.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care For Neck Pain In Boise Idaho

The most common type of neck pain that we see in the clinic is Axial neck pain, followed by Radicular neck pain , followed by Myelopathic neck pain. We have helped many patients experiencing varying forms of neck pain. Whether the problem is soft tissue, nerve compression, or spinal cord pressure, proper spinal alignment is key in getting relief. Correcting an upper cervical misalignment has proven to be very helpful in getting the lower vertebrae to fall in line naturally. This is a great way to find drug-free, long-term relief from chronic neck pain.

​Dr. Grayson Blom is a Boise, Idaho native that works with a nationwide group of Doctors expertly trained and specializing in the Upper Cervical procedure. Dr. Blom is also one of the few Doctors in the state of Idaho trained and certified in the Upper Cervical procedure.

When a primary care physician diagnoses neck pain, there are a few options for treatment depending on the underlying cause of the pain. In order to make an appropriate diagnosis, a doctor may use any of the following means:

Blood test – This can help to rule out something like cancer.

Diagnostic imaging – This would include x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.

Lumbar puncture – This would be used to rule our conditions such as spinal meningitis.

Depending on the results, various forms of care may be recommended. Here are some common forms of neck pain treatment listed (approximately) from least to most invasive:

Ice (for inflammation) or heat (to improve blood flow)

Stretching

Moderate exercise

Physical Therapy

Cervical collar (to limit motion)

Pain medications or muscle relaxers

Corticosteroid injections

Hospitalization (if the underlying cause is something like meningitis)

Surgery (which is used as a last resort)

Of course, this is not a comprehensive list of ways to deal with neck pain. Acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care may also be recommended.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

A Specialized Form of Chiropractic Care To Address Neck Pain

Have you ever heard of upper cervical chiropractic care? Upper cervical chiropractic care is a specialized form of chiropractic that addresses neck misalignment's using a precision method to gently correct spinal misalignment that occurs in the upper neck. Upper cervical care is a low force method used to correct Atlas (C1 vertebra) and Axis (C2 vertebra) misalignment naturally.

Neck pain and the accompanying symptoms often begin after an atlas misalignment takes place. Atlas misalignment most commonly occurs due to an accident or injury such as a car accident, as lip or fall, a sports injury or long hours of poor posture such as the repetitive motion of checking a smartphone dozens of times per day. Correcting atlas misalignment is a natural way to restore balance to the body.

Dr. Grayson Blom is a Boise, Idaho native that works with a nationwide group of Doctors expertly trained and specializing in the Upper Cervical procedure. Dr. Blom is also one of the few Doctors in the state of Idaho trained and certified in the Upper Cervical procedure.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Blom click the button below or call 208-559-0541

You may wonder why it is so important for a doctor to have a complete patient history when diagnosing neck pain. The fact is that diagnosing the underlying cause of neck is a very important part of finding the right form of care. As a result, we’re going to take a look at several factors that are important to consider during a neck pain diagnosis. Then we will look at a drug-free way to find relief from many forms of neck pain.

Diagnosing Chronic Neck Pain

Symptoms – Understanding what symptoms accompany the neck pain and whether they came on suddenly or gradually can all hint at the underlying issue.

Employment – Many neck problems go back to the workplace. Manual labor can certainly result in neck problems, but so can a desk job, especially if one must look at a monitor much of the day.

Habits – Text neck is an emerging problem resulting from the habit of people looking down at electronic devices for texting, using social media, binge watching shows, playing video games, or other uses.

Sleep – If neck pain is worst in the morning, sleep position or the type of pillow a person uses may be contributing factors.

Injuries – Whether the injury just occurred or it is a decade old, any past injury could be the cause of neck pain. In fact most chronic neck pain is the result of an old injury to the neck.

Posture – Neck pain may occur gradually over time due to a phenomenon called hysteresis where repetitive poor posture can damage the supporting connective tissues of the spine resulting in chronic neck pain.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care For Chronic Neck Pain

Of all the 6 factors above old injuries to the head and neck are by far the most common cause of chronic neck pain. Old injuries to the head and neck commonly result in damage to the supporting connective tissues which allows the upper neck to misalign causing your lower neck and spine to compensate to make up for the weight of the head no longer being balanced. Chronic neck pain is likely to follow over the coming weeks months and years. The average chronic neck pain case we see in the office suffered an injury to the head or neck averaging 10-15 years prior.

Dr. Grayson Blom is a Boise, Idaho native that works with a nationwide group of Doctors expertly trained and specializing in the Upper Cervical procedure. Dr. Blom is also one of the few Doctors in the state of Idaho trained and certified in the Upper Cervical procedure. ​

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Blom click the button below or call 208-559-0541

Neck pain can vary in range from mild stiffness to excruciating pain that limits movement and activity. While neck pain may sometimes go away on its own after a day or two, many suffer from chronic neck problems. When neck pain includes other symptoms, it is an indication that an underlying problem needs to be corrected. What symptoms are commonly associated with neck pain and how can the pain be relieved naturally?

Neck Pain Symptoms

​Here are some of the problems that come along with chronic neck pain:

Stiffness – It can be difficult to move the head, particularly turning to the side.

Numbness in Fingers – This can present as numbness, weakness, or tingling and make it difficult to grasp and lift.

In many cases neck pain symptoms gradually present over time. This is a common result of a chronic neck problem that will also frequently results in degenerative changes throughout the neck and lower spine as well. At other times, symptoms start acutely. This usually indicates an injury has occurred.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Neck Pain Symptoms and Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

Upper cervical chiropractic care is a specific and gentle form of chiropractic that focuses on the atlas (C1) vertebra. This form of chiropractic is very effective when it comes to neck pain because it has a global effect on the spine below to addresses symptoms that occur throughout the spine as a whole. For example, an atlas misalignment is often the underlying factor in headaches, or vertigo. When the atlas is misaligned, the rest of the neck in virtually all cases will follow suit, and this can particularly affect the shoulders, arms, and fingers as that chain reaction reaches the lower neck vertebrae and continues on down the spine. Also of note is the fact that many chronic neck pain sufferers also suffer from lower back pain.

Dr. Grayson Blom is a Boise, Idaho native that works with a nationwide group of Doctors expertly trained and specializing in the Upper Cervical procedure. Dr. Blom is also one of the few Doctors in the state of Idaho trained and certified in the Upper Cervical procedure. ​

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Blom click the button below or call 208-559-0541

Neck pain is a common condition. According to research performed by the National Institute of Health up to 15% of Americans suffer from neck pain (which ads up to approximately 46 million people). Thus neck pain is a big deal. Understanding what can cause chronic neck pain is important and likewise natural, drug-free ways to find relief.

Conditions That Lead To Chronic Neck Pain

​There are numerous ways that a person can end up with chronic neck pain. Some of the most common underlying factors include:

Whiplash – When a person’s head is whipped forward and back or side to side rapidly, a whiplash injury may occur.

Trauma – Neck trauma such as car accidents or sports injuries can lead to chronic neck pain.

Cervical Spondylosis – This is the medical term for arthritis of the neck. It occurs when the discs between the vertebrae gradually degrade and the bones of the neck also degrade right along with the discs.

Tension Headaches or Migraines – Both headaches and migraines very commonly have neck pain as a symptom.

Torticollis – This is a condition in which the neck is twisted or tilted.

Fibromyalgia – Neck pain is a common fibromyalgia symptom.

Scoliosis - Abnormal curves within the spine.

While this is not a comprehensive list of every underlying neck condition, it does reveal a trend.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care For Neck Pain Relief In Boise Idaho

​One thing all of the conditions above have in common is that they can all be related to an Atlas/Axis subluxation which is a misalignment of the C1 or C2 vertebra. The atlas can easily become misaligned due to whiplash or another form of neck trauma. Such a misalignment can lead to headaches, migraines, torticollis, fibromyalgia, or degenerative cervical arthritis. Atlas/Axis subluxation is the most commonly overlooked source of chronic neck pain.

Dr. Grayson Blom is a Boise, Idaho native that works with a nationwide group of Doctors expertly trained and specializing in the Upper Cervical procedure. Dr. Blom is also one of the few Doctors in the state of Idaho trained and certified in the Upper Cervical procedure. ​

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Blom click the button below or call 208-559-0541

Many patients who deal with the chronic pain of fibromyalgia also have to cope with a daily cocktail of prescription medications and the side effects that come along with such drugs. These medications fall into 5 different categories. However, what works for one patient may not work for another. Drugs at best can be a good temporary solution, while long term drug use will frequently cause irreparable damage to the body.

Fibromyalgia Medications

Pain relievers – Pain is the primary symptom of fibromyalgia, and pain medications are often used to try and control pain levels.

Antidepressants – Not only are many fibromyalgia patients also dealing with depression, but sleep is often an issue as well. These drugs may provide some help for both conditions.

Anticonvulsants – Usually prescribed for seizures, these medications sometimes provide pain relief. In fact, the FDA has approved Lyrica, an anticonvulsant, as a fibromyalgia pain medication.

Sleep aids – Sleep is difficult for many fibromyalgia sufferers, but it is necessary for proper pain processing. As a result, doctors often prescribe various sleeping pills.

Narcolepsy medications – These medications are used to help people get deeper sleep at night.​

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and fibromyalgia download our complimentary e-book.

Drug-Free Help For Fibromyalgia Sufferers

​Many people do not like the side effects that come from the powerful drugs noted above. Also, all of these medications only focus on symptoms and not on helping the condition as a whole. Thus, many are turning to natural alternatives. However, not all alternatives are equally effective. For example, aromatherapy is one frequently recommend option. The catch is that many patients become sensitive to strong smells. Therefore, while this approach has helped some, for others it can trigger or worsen symptoms.

Upper cervical chiropractic care is a safe and drug-free alternative that has helped countless fibromyalgia sufferers around the world. Correction of upper cervical misalignment is frequently the key for those who suffer with chronic pain. To date we have not seen a fibromyalgia case that has not had a history of head and neck trauma. For some time it has been suspected that the most common cause of fibromyalgia symptoms is a previous injury to the head and neck.

If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, especially if you have a history of trauma, feel free schedule an appointment to get your neck evaluated. ​To schedule an appointment with Dr. Blom click the button below or call 208-559-0541

If you are going through the process of a fibromyalgia diagnosis, you may wonder why it’s taking so long. After all, you can look online and see a long list of symptoms that match what you are going through. If you are experiencing widespread pain, tingling in your hands and feet, insomnia, fatigue, chronic headaches, brain fog, and a host of other symptoms, shouldn’t the diagnosis be simple?

Here are a few reasons the diagnostic process is drawn out. In the meantime, you may also want to seek natural relief that can help with many of those symptoms regardless of whether or not fibromyalgia is the eventual diagnosis.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms Seem Similar To Other Conditions

​The biggest issue with diagnosing fibromyalgia is that the symptoms noted above can be related to many other conditions, some of which may require immediate attention. Thus, your doctor will probably want to test for all of those conditions first to rule them out. That is why a fibromyalgia diagnosis is one of exclusion—when all the other tests come up negative.

Also, while one doctor may diagnose the symptoms above as fibromyalgia, another may lean toward chronic fatigue syndrome since most of the symptoms match up. The main difference is that a physical examination should reveal certain tender points that would lean toward a fibromyalgia diagnosis. But since pain levels are not always as high, someone may feel more or less tenderness depending on the day the examination takes place.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and fibromyalgia download our complimentary e-book.

Natural Fibromyalgia Relief In Boise, Idaho

​The symptoms of fibromyalgia, including heightened pain processing, can often stem from misalignment of the upper cervical spine. Because of this, virtually all fibromyalgia sufferers will have a history of head or neck trauma before the condition sets in. Upper cervical misalignments can also lead to headaches, numbness and tingling, and numerous other spinal related disorders. ​Correction of the upper cervical misalignment is paramount to the restoration of health in these situations. As a result, proper brainstem function can be restored, vertebral blood flow can be facilitated, and cerebrospinal fluid can drain properly.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Blom click the button below or call 208-559-0541

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that afflicts approximately 12 million people in the US. Researchers have come up with a number of ideas to explain what causes fibromyalgia to develop. In our experience the most common cause is a previous injury to the head or neck. From there the most common injury to the head or neck is a whiplash type injury via a car accident. With that said here are some potential causes and a natural way to cope.

What Factors Contribute To Fibromyalgia?

​Researchers have linked so many contributing factors to theonset of fibromyalgiathat some believe a combination of things must occur. Here are a few of the connected occurrences:

Head or neck trauma – Many find the onset of fibromyalgia follows trauma such as from a car accident.

Stress – Heavy emotional stress may not only lead up to fibromyalgia but also seems to cause symptoms to flare up.

Insomnia – Lack of sleep can lower a person’s pain threshold. Thus, insomnia may not only lead to the symptoms of fibromyalgia but can also make them worse.

Depression – Since depression and anxiety are so commonly experienced by fibromyalgia patients, researchers have considered whether these are part of the cause rather than being due to distress that arises after diagnosis.

Genetics – Certain genes are more common for those who have fibromyalgia. It is considered possible that physical or emotional trauma or perhaps even illness may trigger a response from these genes.

Illness – Some develop fibromyalgia following certain illnesses or after being diagnosed with diseases like lupus.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and fibromyalgia download our complimentary e-book.

Relief From Fibromyalgia Symptoms In Boise, Idaho

​Upper cervical chiropractic care has led to theresolution of fibromyalgia symptomsin many cases. What is the connection? It goes back to some of the factors that relate to the onset of fibromyalgia.

For example, virtually all fibromyalgia patients have some kind of head or neck trauma or a repetitive injury in their history. That is why researchers always list trauma as a leading risk factor for developing fibromyalgia.

Such an injury frequently leads to a misalignment of the top two neck bones called atlas and axis found at the base of the skull. These vertebrae protect the area where the brain, brainstem and spinal cord meet. It is a vital part of the body when it comes to interpreting pain signals.

Correction of upper cervical spinal misalignment has been shown time and time again to help those that suffer with fibromyalgia. Are you a candidate for upper cervical care?

​Former American Idol star, Jordan Sparks, tweeted about her recent episode with vertigo. She said that she had not slept for four days straight due to her vertigo. She also said she felt dizzy whether she was up or laying down. Ironically enough, back in 2009, Sparks released a CD with a song called Vertigo. The song is about how love can make you feel dizzy. However in this situation, it was an ear infection that caused her actual dizziness.​Vertigo is a vestibular disorder that is often treated by the use of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. While these offer some help to control the symptoms of vertigo it often reoccurs because the underlying cause is not being addressed.

​To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo download our complimentary e-book

Why Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Can Help With Vertigo

​There is a connection between previous head and neck trauma and vestibular disorders, such as vertigo, disequilibrium, and dizziness in general. This has to do with the fact that a misalignment in the upper neck vertebrae can affect the balance system of the ears. It also hinders proper communication to and from the brain and the body. When the central nervous system is compromised, it can wreak havoc throughout the entire body causing all kind of health problems, including vertigo.

We use precision x-rays to determine the nature and degree of misalignment in the neck. Then we use a precise gentle method to realign the upper cervical vertebrae. From there a healing process will begin and as the body heals itself symptoms fade away.